Nepal Crash Sole Survivor Rose From Ashes As Others Perish | Rare Details Of Kathmandu Tragedy
He was rescued from the burning wreckage and was rushed to the Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for medical treatment.He suffered injuries to the eyes but is not in any danger, the doctor said.
Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, in a press statement said, that the Pokhara bound 50-seater CRJ200 aircraft departed at 11:11 am from Kathmandu and minutes later crashed in the eastern section of the airport after turning right.
The flight was being conducted for technical or maintenance purposes, according to Gyanendra Bhul of Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority.
Visuals doing round on social media platforms shows the aircraft flying slightly above the runway before tilting and then later crashing.
Nepal’s capital is currently witnessing rainy season but it was not raining at the time of the crash. However, Visibility was low across the capital.
Tribhuvan International Airport, the main airport in Nepal for international and domestic flights, was shut down after the incident. However, it was later reopened to resume operations.
The Kathmandu airport is considered a challenging airport for pilots as it is located inside a valley surrounded by mountains on most sides. Bigger planes have to come through an opening on the mountain to land.
Nepal’s aviation industry has struggled with poor safety standards due to insufficient training and maintenance, along with challenging mountainous terrain. Around 350 people have died in plane or helicopter crashes in the Himalayan country since 2000.
The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to safety concerns.
The country has witnessed several major commercial flight accidents in recent years. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines service crashed while landing at Pokhara, resulting in the loss of all 72 lives on board. This incident was Nepal’s deadliest since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport, killing all 167 people.
Earlier in 1992, a Thai Airways aircraft crashed near the same airport, claiming 113 lives.